Man held over abuse claims

INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEX CRIMES FROM 1997 TO 2003

A MAN has been arrested by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers in Leicester in connection with alleged child sexual abuse in 2004.

The NCA said the 37-year-old was detained on suspicion of arranging or facilitating another to commit rape between May and August of that year in Sheffield.

Officers said he was arrested as part of Operation Stovewood, an investigation into paedophile rings over a 20-year period from

1997.

A 73-year-old man was also detained in Rotherham on suspicion of 10 offences alleged to have taken place between 2005 and

2015.

Senior investigating officer Philip Marshall said: “Officers continue to make good progress on Operation Stovewood, with more than 170 arrests now made.

“I hope this continued activity sends out a message to victims that we are taking allegations seriously. We encourage all victims to come forward and give their accounts in the knowledge they will be listened to and they will be supported throughout.

“If you believe that you were a victim of child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 or might have information that might assist our investigations, then please contact us.”

The NCA said Operation Stovewood is the single largest law enforcement investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse in the UK.

Potential victims and witnesses can contact the team via the NCA website. All information will be treated in confidence.